The Supreme Court has upheld the convictions of four officials found guilty in connection with the July 2018 Mati wildfire, which killed 104 people, seriously injured 57 others and devastated eastern Attica.
The court’s ruling makes the guilty verdicts final and irrevocable, but partially overturned the appeals court decision regarding the rejection of a mitigating circumstance – a “law-abiding life” – for three defendants: former fire brigade chief Sotiris Terzoudis, former deputy chief Vassilis Mattheopoulos, and former Civil Protection secretary-general Ioannis Kapakis. That narrow question is referred back to the appeals court for reconsideration.
In June 2025, the appeals court had sentenced all four defendants to a combined 340 years, with five years to be actually served. The presiding judge ordered the sentences served without suspension, citing risk of reoffending. The original trial verdict had drawn fierce public criticism after sentences were made convertible to a fine of €10 per day.
